Vacuum-cup device



April 14, 1931. 1 ANDA 1,800,218

VACUUM CUP DEVICE Filed May 3l, 1950 mi 'ENTOR JUEEFH JHNDH- BYZQS a .-1 TTORNEY Patented Apr. 14, 1931 i PATENT fiori-ICE JosErH Jenna, or RIDGEWO'OD, NEW'YORK VAcUUMl-C'UP DEVICE Application led May 31,

My invention relates to card or sign supporting devices of the vacuum-cup type, designed for temporary, detachable connection with any smooth surface, and my purpose, generally speaking, is to provide a device of this character which is of simple, inexpensive construction and'which embodies means whereby information or advertising cards,.

signs or the like of paper, cardboard or other flexible material may readily be interchangeably mounted thereon and supported in a flat condition so thatreading or display matter on the card, sign or the likevmay be clearly visible.

With the foregoing and other purposes in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be vhereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined inthe appended claim.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in related views: 7

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section through a supporting device constructed in accordance with one embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is an endview of the device shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a view similarto Figure 1 K illustrating a slightly alternative embodiment of the invention. v

Referring tov the drawings in detail, 10 designates a cup of elastic material, such as rubber, having a chamber 12 therein from which air is adapted to be expelledl by collapsing the cup against any smooth surface,

the margin of the cupy surroundlng the chamber being designed tov adhere closely against the smooth'surface so that atmospheric pressure exerted against the outer face ofthe cup serves to maintain same detachably supported against the surface.

Embedded in the central portion ofthe cup 10 is the inner end of a throaded'pin or stud 14 which may project outwardly. any suitable distance beyond the outer face of the cup. Preferably, the inner end of this pin or stud is providedwith a polyg- 1930. Serial No. 457,708.

onally shaped head 16,`Whereby the pin or stud is held securely both against being pulled out of the cup 10 and against rotation relative to said cup.

Adapted for detachable connection with the cup 10 through the instrumentality of the pin or stud 14, is a card or sign supporting plate or disk 18 which is formed from some stiff, preferably light weight material, such, for example, as aluminum. This plate or disk, which may be of any suitable size and shape, is fiat and, in the case of Figures 1 and 2, is provided with acentral aperture whereby it is freely engageable over the pin or stud 14 into abutting relation at its center with the outer face of the cup 10. In this connection it will be observed that the outer face of the cup 1() is inclusive of va fiat surface 20 surrounding the pin or stud 14, against which surface the plate or disk is adapted to abut, whereby tilting movement of the plate or disk relative to the cup is prevented.

The plate or disk 18 is designed to support on its outer face a card, sign or the like 22, formed from paper cardboard or other flexible material, and which, like said plate or disk, is provided with an aperture to receive the pin or stud 14, the plate or disk 18 with the card or sign 22 superimposed thereon being adapted to be secured to the cup in the example'of Figures 1 and 2 by means of a clamp nut 24 threaded on the pin or stud 14.

On the other hand, according to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 3, the necessity for a nut 24 may be eliminated by providing the plateor disk, designated in this figure as 18a, with a threaded aperture to adapt said plate or disk for direct threaded engagement vwith the pin or stud 14, .in which event the plate or disk, preferably but not necessarily, is provided with a-boss or enlargement 26, for strengtheningV purposes where the threaded aperture is formed therein.

lVhen a nut is employed, as in Figures 1 and 2, tofsecure thevplate` or disk and the card or sign to the cup 10, the said nut may be employed to secure the central portion or the card or sign against the plate or disk and other means may or may not be provided to'hold the marginal portions of the card or sign against the plate or disk. However, in the case of Figure 3, wherein the clamp nut is eliminated, it is particularly desirable to vprovide means for holding the marginal portions of the card or sign against the'plate or disk, and in order to accomplish this tive' manner, the marginal portion of the plate or disk 18a may be turned outwardly and then inwardly to provide a lip '28 disposed in overlying relation to the outer, marginal portion of the plate, thus to produce a groove to receive and retain the marginal portion of the card 'or sign, which latter' may be flexed into engagement with said groove in an obvious mannen. Thus, even though the central portion of the card or sign may be provided with an opening of relatively large size to receive the boss 26, and despite the absence of a clamp nut at the center 'of the device the card or sign obviously will be retain d and supported in a subkstantially flat con ition by the plate or dis f l Preferably the plate or disk 18 of Figures 1 and 2 also is provided with a marginal lip and groove for the same purpose as set forth in respect to thev lip and groove shown in F igureB, but as heretofore stated this is no1'J essential, especially as it is evident that with the constructionl illustrated in, Figures 1 and 2, the size and shape o f the, card or Asign may differ materially from the size and shape of the plate or disk and still be held at against the plate or disk by thenut 24. From the foregoing description `considered in connection with the accompanying drawt ings, it is believed that the construction and i bedded at one end in said cup,

asf

the advantages of my improved support will be clearly understood. .I desire to point out, however, that while I have herein illustrated and described certain specific` embodiments .of my invention, modifications and changes may be made therein within scope of my invention the spirit and e as definedC in the appended claim.

I claim.:

A supporting device of the character described comprising a vacuum cup, a pin em- I said pin having a threadedV portion projecting forwardly rom the cup and the cup having a flat front facesurrounding said pin, a fiat stiff card or slgn supporting plate having an aperture therein, said plate being disposed Hat agalnst the flat front face of the vacuum cup with said pin extending through the aperture in said plate, a forwardly and inwardly directed marginal vflange on said 'plate cooperating with the latter to provide a retaininggroove for lof a card or sign, a card or sign. disposed,

purpose in a simple,"ell"ee`y the marginal portion JOSEPH 'J ANDA. 

